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"OASIS OF DREAMS" opens to rave reviews PDF Print E-mail

logo-web-image"Oasis of Dreams" Christophers Childers' newest production, opened to rave reviews onboard the "Oasis of the Seas" the worlds newest and largest cruise ship. "Oasis of Dreams" is the worlds first water spectacular at sea.

"Oasis of Dreams" is the story of a beautiful, lost and weary desert dweller, who has been traveling for hundreds of years, across the dry, cracked earth, with her handmaiden. She carries a yellow sun umbrella to protect her from the unending sunlight. She meets a winged Griffin, sitting high atop the gates of Neptune. The Griffin makes the rain come, and there is a flood that covers the earth. The Griffin beckons the girl to step into her umbrella, which has flipped upside down and becomes a boat. As the earth is fading away, and as she falls asleep, she is transported to many far off and distant islands.  She is swooped down upon and taken out of the boat to begin her journey, by a Bird of Prey who lifts her up and begins a Pas de deux. She meets a second bird of Prey and is lifted even higher into the air for an aerial Pas de deux. The girl is shown these different worlds and she learns about strength, agility and beauty, and immerses herself in their world. She becomes part of these new worlds, and meets many characters, each showing her a different way of life. The girl begins to dance and fly and immerses herself in their world.  At the end of the journey, she is brought back to where she began, and steps out of the boat. Does she return to her world, or choose to stay with her new friends in the world of water?

"Oasis of Dreams" is Christophers' Directorial debut in the realm of water shows. He hand selected 18 of the worlds best Synchronized Swimmers, Divers, Specialty High Divers, and Acrobats. Truly an international cast, Czech Republic, Russia, America, Canada, England, Australia and Brazil, are all represented onstage. His sister Suzanne wrote the wonderful story, and designed all the colorful and amazing costumes. The Aqua Theater features a 3m bridge area, with 2 spring boards, SL and SR, a 10m bridge with 2 diving platforms SR and SL, two high dive towers, which go up to about 18 meters and three lifts which submerge in three sections, into the worlds' largest pool at sea. There are water fountains that rival Bellagio in Las Vegas, and a rain curtain which stretches across the length of the pool. There are 2 giant jumbotrons far SR and SL, and a center 'sail' area, where projection is thrown. Christopher also created the projection segments, which run in time with show, alternating with live IMAG shots of the performers during the show.

As you can imagine, Christopher had a huge challenge in undertaking this project, as nothing like this had ever been done on a moving vessel before. Choreographing not only the above water dance, areial segments, gymnastics, trampoline and diving choreography, he had to also choreograph all the underwater scuba movement. There are 2 full time scuba divers below the surface of the water, and two deck hands who are on headset and safety. Mapping this all out with many performers who had never done a show before, was quite challenging, and though it seemed impossible, the show opened flawlessly and to rave reviews! The Dress Rehearsal was standing room only and the crowd was literally on their feet midway through the show, during the trampoline segment. Please see the video segment from the dress rehearsal

 
 
Sand Castle Dream review PDF Print E-mail
Directed and Choreographed by Christopher Childers

dreamPlayThe new SandCastle show "Dream" is about two young Chinese girls ("DreamGirls") who dream about the West. Their imagination takes them on fantastical flights of fancy, flights that fuse elements of East and West, while introducing them to a host of different characters who lead them through exotic settings on an adventure of transformation.

It all begins with the DreamGirls waking up to catch sight of a white feather, floating and dancing above their heads, just out of reach of their outstretched fingers. The feather symbolizes their dream, and they are soon introduced to the Dreamweaver (the magician) and the DreamStealer (the comic). The Dreamweaver opens up to the girls amazing new worlds they never knew existed, rich in possibility and promise; while the DreamStealer, bumbling and stumbling, continually tries to steal the feather for himself.

Gradually the show unfolds, with a troupe of female dancers representing the West and a posse of male acrobats representing the East. The statuesque women dancers are introduced in a setting reminiscent of the very best of those old-style cabaret shows, with tall feathered headdresses in electric blue and lemon yellow, arrayed in all their splendor on a truly magnificent set of lighted steps ("the Infinity Stairs") that stretch all the way up as far as the eye can see.

But when the male Chinese acrobats come on stage, they absolutely steal the show. With their shaved heads, muscled physiques and long skirts, they swing down on leather ropes that crackle and whip through the air. Twirling, snapping, whirling up and down their lengths of rope, their act is a flawless balance of grace and power. In a later segment involving nothing more than three long poles, the acrobats display jawdropping feats of strength, agility and abdominal control. Leaping and climbing, twisting and hopping, at times advancing up the poles while upside down, their gravity-defying, heart-stopping stunts have to be seen to be believed.

The DreamGirls themselves are contortionists par excellence. In a segment entitled Palace Harem, the two girls writhe and twist on a tiny upraised stage, continually creating incredible shapes with their bodies. Such is their dexterity that at times it looks as though their heads have actually detached from the rest of their bodies! Their motions are fluid and graceful; their movements into and out of poses so seamless, they really seem like a pair of human shape shifters. Tiny and fine-boned though they look, they also display an enormous amount of strength in their act: one bears the entire weight of the other on unlikely parts of her anatomy -- like her elbows or her breastbone -- even while folded into the most complicated pretzel.
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